Two recent court cases on two continents make me very nervous. That they're even being tried is outrageous. That either may succeed is ominous, and few people know anything about either one.

First is the case of Roger Barnett - an Arizona rancher who has
been under siege by illegal immigrants and drug dealers. In the
Washington Times, Barnett claims illegals "tore up water pumps,
killed calves, destroyed fences and gates, stole trucks and broke into
his home." Now sixteen illegals are suing him in federal court for $32
million, accusing him of "conspiring to violate their civil rights
when he stopped them at gunpoint on his ranch next to the US-Mexico
border." The sixteen illegals claim Barnett caused them emotional
distress by holding them at gunpoint and they want $2 million each.

Chief among our federal government's responsibilities is to protect American citizens from foreign invasion, but it's done little or nothing to help Barnett. Rather than protecting him, our government instead enables foreign invaders to sue him. That's how bad it's gotten.

The US Department of Homeland Security acknowledges virtual anarchy
on the border and warns that Mexico itself is on the verge of
collapse. That would come as no surprise to Barnett, who must wonder
about his own country as well if it cannot, or will not control its
borders. The DHS report states: "[Mexico's] government, its
politicians, police and judicial infrastructure are all under
sustained assault and press by criminal gangs and drug cartels. . . .
Any descent by Mexico into chaos would demand an American response
based on the serious implications for homeland security alone."

Drug cartel power depends on moving drugs across our border. We are their market. I'd say an American response is overdue already, wouldn't you? USA Today reported in 2005 that: "First [New Mexico Governor] Richardson, then [Arizona Governor] Napolitano, declared a state of emergency this month in portions of their states along the border with Mexico."

THE SECOND CASE IS THAT OF GEERT WILDERS in Holland: A Member of Parliament, Wilders has been charged with hurting Muslim immigrant feelings in Holland by "inciting racial hatred." He made a film called "Fitna" comparing the Koran to Hitler's "Mein Kampf." As Dr. Sami Alrabaa reports in Canadian Free Press: "Wilders' comparison of the Koran to Adolf Hitler's "Mein Kampf" and describing it as a fascist book is not inappropriate. Hitler referred to the Jews as "rats and vermin" and the Koran and fascist Muslims call the Jews "The descendants of apes and pigs."

When radical Muslims incite racial hatred in Holland, it's okay. When a member of Holland's government points it out, it's a crime.

Dr. Alrabaa also writes that "Muhammad Sayyid Al Tantawi, president
of Al Azhar University [established 975 AD in Cairo] also approves of
killing and maiming Christians, Jews, and other infidels. He added,
'This is not my personal view. This what the Shari'a Law says, the law
of Allah, the only valid law on the earth.'"

There. I've pointed it out. I'm a criminal too.

Geert Wilders was invited by a member of the British House of Lords to show his film there. When he landed in London last Friday, he was promptly deported. The London Daily Telegraph reported: "Jacqui Smith, the Home Secretary refused Mr. Wilders entry because his opinions 'would threaten community security and therefore public security' in the UK."

So, when Muslim clerics in the UK preach hatred and violent jihad against the British government, it's all right. But when Wilders expresses a negative opinion about that preaching, he's the threat, not them.

This is what Europe, seat of western civilization and democracy, has come to.

Back here, groups like MALDEF (Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund) use the US Constitution to bring suit against Americans like Roger Barnett when he tries to defend his property. MALDEF doesn't recognize the US border. Similar radical Mexican groups like MEChA deny the legitimacy of state governments all across the southwestern United States, calling the area "Aztlan" and claiming themselves as indigenous people not subject to US law. MEChA has chapters in most colleges across the American southwest. If you check out their web site here, you'll see their symbol: an eagle gripping an Aztec war club in one talon and a stick of dynamite with its fuse lit in the other. Los Angeles mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and Lt. Governor Cruz Bustamante are former members.

MEChA receives funding from La Raza ("The Race"). Politicians across America go out of their way to pay homage to "The Race." President Barack Obama and Senator John McCain addressed the organization during the 2008 campaign, where both virtually promised amnesty for illegals. Two out of three voted for Obama.

Barnett and Wilders are brave men defending western civilization on the front lines. If they go down, watch out.

Tom McClaughlin is a teacher and columnist who lives in Lovell, Maine.
His column is published in Maine and New Hampshire newspapers. Email
him at tommclaughlin@fairpoint.net

This articlewas submitted Tuesday, February 17, 2009. It is archived at
http://tommclaughlin.blogspot.com/2009/02/scarey-court-cases.html